Scale



April 8 1924. 1,489,368

. M. H. STARR SCALE Filed June 12, 19' '2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY PatentedApr. 8, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MORTON H. STARR, OF ST. JOHNSBURY, VERMONT, ASSIGNOR TO E. AND T.FAIRBANKS AND COMPANY, OF ST. JOHNSBURY, VERMONT, A CORPORATION OFVERMONT.

SCALE.

Application filed June 12, 1922. Serial No. 567,605.

To all whom t may Gomera:

Be it known that l, MoRToN H. STARR, a citizen of the United States,residing at St. Johnsbury, in the county of Caledonia and State ofVermont, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Scales, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same.

This invention relates to scales, and more particularly to an adjustablecounterpoise or back balance ball for use on weigh-beams ordinarilyemployed in connection with high capacity scales.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved balancing deviceof the class mentioned which is relatively simple in construction, andreliable and exact in function under all conditions of service.

Another' object is the provision of an improved adjusting mechanism forthe balance ball with locking mechanism therefor for securing thebalance ball in adjusted position. y

Other objects will be in part obvious in connection with the followingdetailed description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention andin part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists of features of construction,combination of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope ofthe application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings wherein a t ical preferred embodiment` ofthe invention is disclosed,

Fig. l is a side elevation of a weigh-beam equipped with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a central vertical longitudinal sectional view on an enlargedscale;

Fig. 3 is a rear end elevation; and

Fig. 4 is a transverse, sectional view taken approximately on the line4-4 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

This inventionis disclosedy in prior pending application for scales,Serial No. 441,544 filed February 1, 1921, and the present applicationis a division vof said prior application.

Referring now to the drawing for a detailed description of theembodiment there shown the weigh-beam 1 is supported upon a beam stand 2attached to the upper surface of a beam shelf (not shown) and carries anadjustable poise 3 mounted for longitudinal adjustment along theweigh-beam. The weigh-beam is substantially channel shaped in crosssection having downwardly extending flanges or side walls, presenting adownwardly facing channel opening. The beam stand 2 extends into thechannel opening and carries spaced bearings. 4 contacting in supportingrelation with knifeedge bearing 5 carried by the spaced walls of theweigh-beam, the latter being thus supported for pivotal movement on saidbearings. A power transmission rod 6 extends from its connection withscale levers (not shown) to a connecting block 7 supported on knife-edgebearings 8 carried by the walls of the weigh-beam.

A back balance poise (not shown) is preferably suspended from the rearend portion of the beam by means of a rod 9 connected to a yolze 10. thelatter being substantially U-shaped, disposed centrally of the beamwalls and having spaced bea-ring blocks 11 pivotally supported bybearings 12 mounted in the walls of the weigh-beam. The walls arepreferably apertured for this purpose. The vertically disposed legs 13of the yoke 10 are outwardly turned at 14 forming supports for thebearings 11, and the walls of the beam are thickened at 15 providingample supporting area for the lower bearing members 12. It will be seenthat the stresses incident to the counterpoise weight are transmittedequally to the opposite walls of the weigh-beam. the resulting stressbeing in the central vertical plane. As will be understood, counterpoiseweights are added or substracted from the counterpoise rod until theexcess or deficiency in the balanced condition is within the range ofthe balancing power of the precise adjustment provided by an adjustablebalance ball more fully hereinafter described.

Means for completing the precise balancing of the beam in zero or noload position is provided by a balance ball 16 movable longitudinally toadjust the center of gravity adjusting means normally urged to lockingposition, and manual means for releasing said locking means.

8. In combination, a weigh-beam, a balancing ball for said beam mountedthereon, niieans lfor adjusting said ball to balance said weigh-beam,locking means for said adjusting means normally urged to lockingposition, and manual means for releasing said locking means disposedadjacent said adjusting means tor sinniltaneous operating therewith by asingle hand of the operator.

9. In combination, a weigh-beam having spaced walls, a counter poise,and means for connecting said counter poise to said beam includingspaced pivotal bearings supported in said wall.

10. In a scale, in combination, a channel shaped weigh-beam havingdownwardly extending flanges or side walls, a balance ball bracketsecured in the channel of said weigh-beam between said walls, and abalance ball adjustably mounted in said bracket. Y

11. In a scale, in combination, a channel shaped weigh-beam havingdownwardly extending :flanges or side walls, a bracket adjustablysecured within the channel of said weigh-beam between said walls, abalance ball adjustably mounted in said bracket, means for adjustingsaidbalance ball for varying the center of gravity of said weighbeamwith respect to its supports, and a locking mechanism for locking saidball in adjusted position.

12. In a scale, in combination, a channel shaped weigh-beam havingdownwardly extending flanges or side walls and a transverse wallextending therebetween, a balance ball bracket adjustably secured tosaid transverse wall within the channel of said weigh-beam, a balanceball adjustably mounted in said bracket, means for adjusting saidbalance ball to vary the center of gravity of said weigh-beam withrespect to its supports, and locking mechanism for locking said ball inadjusted position.

13. In a scale, in combination, a weighbeam, a balance ball for saidweigh-beam, means for adjusting said balance ball for varying the centerof gravity of said weighbeam with respect to its supports, a lockingplate carried by said weigh-beam and lying adjacent said adjustingmeans, and a locking pawl controlled by said adjusting means and adaptedto engage said locking plate to lock said balance ball in any adjustedposition.

14. In a scale, in combination, a weighbeam, a balance ball for saidweigh-beam, a rotatable shaft having threaded engagement with saidbalance ball for adjusting the same to balance said weigh-beam,operating means for said shaft, a circular locking plate carried by saidweigh-beam and lying adjacent said shaft, a locking pawl controlled bysaid operating means and adapted to engage said locking plate to locksaid balance ball in any adjacent position, and a push rod concentricwith said adjusting shaft for reieasing said locking pawl.

15. In a scale, in combination, a channel shaped weigh-beam havingdownwardly extending flanges or side walls, a balance ball mounted inthe channel of said weigh-beam adjacent said walls and being adjustabletherein, and 'a U-shaped yoke for an additional balancing weight pivotedto the walls of said weigh-beam and spanning said balance ball.

16. In a scale, in combination, a weighbeam, a balance ball bracket forsaid weighbeam, a balance ball carried by said bracket, and means foradjustably connecting said bracket to said weigh-beam.

17. In a scale, in combination, a weighbeam, a balance ball bracket forsaid weighbeam, a balance ball carried by said bracket, means forsecuring said bracket to a wall of said weigh-beam for verticaladjustment, and means carried by said wall for guiding said adjustment.

18. In a scale, in combination, a weighbeam, a balance ball for saidweigh-beam, means for adjusting said balance ball for balancing saidweigh-beam, means for locking said balance ball in adjusted position,means associated with said adjusting means for operating said lockingmeans, and means whereby said locking means is automatically moved tolocking position following an operation of said adjusting means.

19. In combination, a weigh-beam having spaced walls, a balance ballsupported between said walls, a counterpoise, and a U- shaped yoke forsupporting said counterpoise spanning said balance ball, and havingspaced pivotal connection with said walls.

In testimony whereof I aix my signa.- ture, in the presence of twowitnesses.

- MORTON H. STARR. Witnesses:

PERLEY F. HAGEN, ALICE E. Cassini'.

